JANUARY1

A FRESH START

Let your eyes look straight ahead;

fix your gaze directly before you.
P R OV E R B S 4 : 2 5

I love new beginnings. The first day of a new year always inspires me to take
an honest look at every aspect of my life and schedule, and to decide any nec-
essary adjustments. I want to always be sure Im staying the courselaser
focused. I love how Proverbs 4:25 tells us, Let your eyes look straight ahead;
fix your gaze directly before you.
I remember when my husband, Nick, bought me a Vespacomplete with
driving lessons. The most important point my instructor made was that where
I looked was where I would go.
What great advice for the start of a new year! God wants us to be diligent
in keeping our eyes firmly fixed on Jesuslaser focused. He wants us to stay
the course, and where we focus is where well go.
Lets commit to focusing on Jesusthe One who calms the storms. Then
we wont be overwhelmed by our circumstances, problems, challenges, or feel-
ings. We wont fear any waves of opposition. Instead, faith will rise up and
make us unshakeable!

Lord, help me to stay focused on You,

every moment of every day.

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 JANUARY2

GODS STORYLINE FOR YOU

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and
do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
G A L AT I A N S 5 : 1

The longer I live, the more I see how God has been writing a great story in
my life. Its plot illustrates His power to transform a life shaped by shame into
a life full of freedoma life I live as a champion, Spirit-filled and Spirit-led.
As a child and a teen, I never could have imagined such a beautiful story for
myself. But God is a magnificent author, and I am so thankful I get to live His
story for my life every day.
God wants to do the very same thing for you. He created you for a specific
purpose. He has a powerful plana significant reframingfor your life. And
guess what? Slavery has no place in Gods storyline. Jesus came to set you free
from every bondageshame, fear, doubt, painfrom whatever has enslaved
you. Yes, the Enemy will always try to throw his weights back on you, but
when you feel them start to pull you down, declare todays verse over your
life. Personalize it and remember to stand firm in your God-given freedom.
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm and confidently
move forward in Gods new story for your life.

Lord, thank You for creating me to live free

and help me walk in that freedom each day.

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 JANUARY3

LOVING GOD WITH

ALL WE ARE

 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul
and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.
M AT T H E W 2 2 : 3 73 9

God took all the commands and laws and summarized them into two critical
points: love God and love others. Thats because His love in us heals and trans-
forms usand His love through us heals and transforms the world around us.
Imagine how much He has entrusted to us! We cant help but share His perfect
love and help others be made whole. What a gift! Thats why God wants us to
keep growing in loving others well.
Learning to love God firstand loving Him so completely that you love
Him with every fiber of your heart, soul, and mindis a lifelong process.
It comes from daily meeting with Him, seeking Him, and allowing Him to
change your heart to be more like His. Learning to love others next is how we
cooperate with Jesus and His mission to win the lost and disciple others.
As you continue to grow in loving God with all your heart, soul, and
mind, show your love for Him by loving those around you. Fulfill the great-
est commandments. Love God. Love others. Be the love of Jesus everywhere
you go.

Thank You, Jesus, for working in me so I can

better love You with all my heart, soul, and mind
and show Your supernatural love to others.

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 JANUARY4

RENEWED PASSION

His power... is at work within us.

EPHESIANS 3:20

Your life in God is an adventure of faithand the fuel to keep you going is
your passion. Our passion is that unapologetic willingness and enthusiasm to
do what God has called us to do. Enthusiasm comes from two Greek words:
en, which means in, and theos, which means God. So if you are in God,
you have enthusiasm. When you live from a place of passion, you take per-
forming your work and living your life from a place of have to to a place of
get to. You dont do anything out of obligation, but out of excited gratitude.
Passion will enable you to do what you never thought you could.
Passion will enable you to keep going when you want to give up.
Passion will help you to inspire everyone to come along on the journey
with you.
We are filled with the Holy Spirit of the living God; therefore, we ought to
be the most passionate people on earth. So, when you feel your passion begin
to wane, stand on Gods promise to us: Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew
their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow
weary, they will walk and not be faint (Isaiah 40:3031).

Your faithful, unfailing love keeps me going,

Lord. It guides, heals, empowers, transforms,
protects, and provides for me. Thank You.

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 JANUARY5

OUR REJOICING GOD

[The LORD your God] will take great delight in you; in his love he
will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.
ZEPHANIAH 3:17

How else can we respond to such unconditional love except with gratitude and
praiserejoicing right along with Him? He loves us so much that He sings
over us!
When you find it difficult to connect with God, or feel as though you cant
hear His direction in your life, start praising Him for all He is and thanking
Him for all He has done. Whether you sing it or say it, express your gratitude
like the Word says, entering His gates with thanksgiving and his courts with
praise (Psalm 100:4). Magnify His name with prayers like the following:
Father, You are wonderful. Thank You for being such a good God, who is
so good to me. Thank You for being so faithful to me in every season. Thank
You for never leaving me nor forsaking me. Thank You for always working all
things for my goodeven when I cant see You at work.

Lord, the idea that You sing over me in delight both

thrills and humbles me. Thank You for Your love!
Show me how to delight in You right back!

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 JANUARY6

LEARNING TO TRUST

Those who know your name trust in you, for you,

LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.
PSALM 9:10

At some point in our lives, we undoubtedly develop defense mechanisms

those habits we form to protect our hearts and minds from hurt and pain. We
decide to never be truly vulnerable again. Or we become the person trying to
control every aspect of our livesand even those around us.
We think these mechanisms create a life that is easier to deal with than
trusting an unknown future to a known God. But learning to trust God is
actually the antidote to getting rid of all of our defense mechanisms. Its the
journey He wants us to take.
Yes, learning to trust will take time. It will be helped by experience with
trustworthy people. It will involve accepting challenges, undergoing trials,
and coming out the other side. It will mean taking the risk of following God
despite our fear.
Trust grows slowly. So, be patient and kind with yourself, knowing that
the Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.
Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to
come to repentance (2Peter 3:9).

Lord, I know You are trustworthy even when

I dont feel it. Heal me, and lead me along
the way to complete freedom in You.

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 JANUARY7

LETTING GO OF THE PAST

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up;

do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the
wilderness and streams in the wasteland.
ISAIAH 43:19

At my house, I firmly believe in having a place for everything and everything

in its place.
I love to purge my house, office, car, and any other space of needless junk
and clutter. If something has not been used recently or is simply taking up too
much space, out it goes! (Nick and the girls often leave notes on their posses-
sions, begging me to not give them away or throw them away.)
A harder assignment, though, is to purge our minds from past events. If
we spend time replaying every scene when we failed or when someone hurt us,
abused us, or disappointed us, then we will struggle to move forward.
If you hang on tightly to past memories, you might miss out on the life
God wants you living today! Yes, it takes courage to let go of the weights you
have carried around for yearswhether those are actual, physical things
(such as clothes, cars, jewelry, or houses) or intangible weights (relationships,
bad habits, wrong thinking, or emotional baggage). Its time to clean out your
mind. Then your hands will be free to hold the good things God has for you.
The new things He wants to give you!

Lord God, I want to pursue the adventure You have for my

life. Please help me see and release the things I dont need.

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